US1862733A - Electric toaster - Google Patents

Description

June 14, 1932. C, WRlGHT ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed May 29. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOOOOOO j 3% @ce 6.'

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. C. WRIGHT ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed May 29, 1929 June 14, 1932.

o aff l yJune 14, 1932. H. c. WRIGHT 1,362,733

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed May 29, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 14, 1932. H, WR|GHT 1,862,733

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed May 29. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 baer/fw. Hczrace C' E v R lilla- "ll I Lwl...

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Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HORACE CALDWELL WRIGHT, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASBIGNOB, TO CHICAGO FLEX- IBLE SHAFT COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS ELECTRIC MASTER Application led )lay 29,

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved form of device for heat treatment of food and other substance requiring limited time exposure to the heat means, including such devices as toasters. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a right hand end elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a section at the line 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section at the line 4-4 on Fi ure 1.

gure 5 is a. section at the line 5--5 on Fi ure 4.

igure 6 is a section at the line 6-6 on Fi re 4.

igure 7 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a rear side elevation.

Figure 9 is a section at the line 9-9 on Figure 8.

The structure shown will be first described in general terms without reference to specific parts.

It consists of a frame structure in which there are arranged in horizontal planes two heating units each comprising a succession of parallel courses of spirally coiled high resistance wire, commonly employed for such purposes. Between these two heating units there is provided a suitable support for the article to be heat-treated, as a slice of bread to'be toasted.

Associated with each unit there are provided devices which are hereinafter referred to as reflector-shields mounted in the'relation to the units respectively for alternatively standing at the Side opposite the position of the article to be heat-treated for reflecting the heat onto the article, or beingf interposed between the heating unit and said article to shield the latter from the heat.

These reflector shields are each semi-cylindrically concavo-convex in transaxial section, and rendered highly reflective at the concave 1999. Serial lo. Somme.

side and relatively nonreiiective on the convex side; and they are pivotally mounted at the axes of their cylindrical forms respectively with the concave side toward the heatmg unit when they are standing at the side of said heating unit opposite the position of the article to be treated; so that when they are rocked about the axis for interposing them between the heating unit and the article treated they present the convex side to the artlcle, and the concave side reilects the heat back onto the heating unit away from the article.

For compactness and simplicity of construction each reflector-shield is dimensioned for spanning and serving as reiiector-shield for two adJacent courses of the heating coil; and said reflector-shields are dimensioned as to the diameter of their cylindrical form for meetln lateral edge to lateral edge when assemble ,each facing the pair of coils which 1t serves.

The reilector-shields have each at each end a radial lug or ilange affording means for mounting it at the axis of the cylindrical form in the frame structure; and, as shown, each has a rock shaft extending longitudinally through it, connecting the radial arms of its opposite ends, said rock shaft being journaled in the frame structure. A nd at one end each rock shaft is provided with a pinion for en aging the rack teeth of a bar mounted slidingly on the frame and connected for actuation longitudinally in one direction to rock the reflector-shields into heat-reliecting position, and in the opposite direction to rock them into shielding position.

The rack bar is connected to the frame structure by a sprin which is tensioned for retracting and holding the rack bar at the end'of its range of slidin at which the reiiector-shields are held in s ielding position; and a catch is'providd for 'engaging the bar to lock it at the opposite limit of its range, to which it is drawn by the operator for setting the reflector-shields in reflecting position when a slice of material to be treated has been placed in position between the heating units. This catch is connected with a timing device of any familiar type, consisting of a spring or weight-driven gear train governed y an escapement device, having 1ts winding shaft connected with a rack har so as to be operated for winding the train in 5 the movement of the rack bar for setting the reflector-shields in position, the train comprising a part actuated in or by the train for tripping and releasing the catch when the train has run for a length of time predetermined by adjustment provided in the train mechanism.

Referring to the drawings The frame structure comprises front and rear uprights, 10, 10, each being a sheet metal stamplng formed with flanges, 11, 11, at the vertical edges, producin ri ht angle corners for stiienin and a or ing means for securing longitu mal frame plates, 20, 20, tying the uprights, 10, 10, together in a rigid frame structure. The front and rear uprights, 10, have each a rectangular slot, 30, forming the entrance for the slice of material to be heat-treated; and a support for the slice is formed by bars or rods, 40, extending between the two standards at the plane of the lower margin of said slot, 30.

Above the horizontal zone of the slot, 30, there is suitably mounted, extending between the standards, an upper heatin unit, 50, and below the plane of said slot t ere is mounted a lower heatin unit, 60 each consisting of a heating coiarranged in parallel courses and formed continuously by 180 bends between adjacent courses alternately at front and rear, as seen at 51 and 61 respectively.

The semi-cylindrical concave-convex re- Hector-shields are provided in two sets for co-operating respectively with the upper and lower heat units; and 1n each set they are of two forms, M and N, alternating with each other in order transversely of the courses of the heating coil. The two forms differ only in respect to the side from which the radial lug, 42, projects to the axis of the cylindrical form, as may be noticed in Figure 5. For the upper set of reflector-shields the rock shafts, 43, connecting the front and rear lugs of each reflector-shield, are journaled in the standards at a plane slightly above the plane of the up er heating unit, and the rock shafts, 44, or the lower set have similarly journaled in the standards at a plane similarly below the lower plane of the coils forming the lower heating unit.

The expedient of mounting the rock shafts oset from the planes of the heating coils respectively away from the zone of the slot, 30,--that is, away from the position of the slice to be heat-treated,permits the radial lugs extending from one lateral limit of the semi-cylindrical form of the reiector-shield to avoid interference with either. of the two heatin coil courses which are embraced by g5 the re ector-shield, notwithstanding each re- Hector shield is rocked from position concave toward said embraced courses below the same to a position concave toward said courses above the same, as may be seen b comparison of Figures 5 and 7, the an e through which the reflectors are rockedg being less than 180, b an amount which accommodates the wi th of the lug, so that the diametric plane of the reiiector-shield is inclined to the horizontal plane in opposite directions at said two positions of the re- Hector-shield.

The successive shields of each set are dimensioned and their shafts are spaced so that at either position adjacent shields are in touch with each other at their proximate edges, so that the entire set com lately spans the entire heating unit to whic it pertains, both in the osition opposite the heat-treated element or reflecting the heat to the latter, and in the position in which they are interposed between the heati unit and the heat-treated element for shielaling the latter from the heat.

Pinions, 45, are mounted upon the rear ends of the rock shafts, 44, respectivel and on the rear standard there is mounts slidably the cam bar, 90, slotted as seen at 91 for its slidable mounting on suitable studs, 92, fixed in said rear standard. The bar, 90 has a longitudinal slot, 94, at the middle o its width whose opposite edges are formed with racks, 95, at the upper edge, and 96 at the lower edge of the slot for enga 'ng at opposite sides the pinions, 45, 45, on a ternate 100 shafts, 44, 44, so that in each movement of the rack bar alternate rock shafts and the re- {lector-shields which they carry are rocked in opposite directions for reversing the position of the reectors with respect to the x05 heat unit to which they pertain, this reverse action being in accordance with the reverse position of the lugs of adjacent reectors, that is, as being respectively at the opposite limits of their 180 arcuate form.

In view of the circumstance that the continuous coil which forms each heating unit may--and as shown does-have both terminals at the same end of the unit,-consider ing the lon 'tudinal dimension of the unit 115 being the dlrection of the lon itudinal extent of the courses,-it is possib e to provide the outer reflector-shields each with an additional radial lug at the rear end as indicated at 42', the u being at a transverse 120 plane rearward of t e terminal of the coil, so that the coil does not interfere with the lug, 42, swinging past it in the rocking movement for reversing the position of the reflector-shield.

A stretched spring 100, is provided con necting the cam slide bar, 90, with the frame, said spring reacting for stressing the slide cam bar in the direction for rocking the re- {lector-shields from the position for reflect- 1:3

.. ning down of the train,

ing the heat onto the article to be treated, to their position for shielding the article from the heat; that is to say, rom the position shown in Figures 5 and 9 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 3.

For rocking and holding the reflectorshields at heat-reliecting position. a dog, 89, is pivoted at 89a' on the rear upright, 10, for engaging a notch, 88, in a bar, 80, which is rifgid wit the slide cam bar, 90, as hereina ter par icularly described.

To provide for automatically terminating the toasting operation by automatic retraction of the cam slide bar, 90, after a predeterminated period, and to provide for adjustment to vary the duration of the heating period, the construction shown is in detail as follows:

The slide cam bar. 90. mounted as described for sliding on the rear frame upright, 10, carries rigid with it by means of t1e bolts, 81, which extend through slots, 82, in said rear upright, 10, a parallel bar, 80, immediately behind said upright, 10. The bar, 80, carries a rack, 83, which engages a winding gear, 84, of the timer train, A, which is a weight-operated train, the operating weight, 85, eing carried on a lever arm, 86,` at the rear end of the Winding shaft, 87.

The bar, 80, has a notch, 88, positioned tor engagement of the dog, 89, above mentioned, which is pivoted on the rear upright, 10, and spring stressed for engaging the notch, 88, when the bar is in the position to which it will be moved with the slide cam bar, 90, in setting the reliector-shields at reflecting or non-toasting position.

The rack bar, 83, is mounted on the bar, 80, by studs, 71, 71, which engage inclined slots, 72, 72, in the rack bar. 83; and a spring, 74, operates to retract the rack bar, 83, so that sliding in the inclined slots, 7 2, on the studs, 71. it is held normally out of engagement with the Winding gear, 84. The rack bar, 83. has a handle, 75, and serves as the means for moving the slide cam bar, 90, to set the reflector-shields at toasting position.

The initial part of the movement of the rack bar, 80, for such setting causes it to slide to the inclined slots, 72, on the studs, 71, up into engagement with the Winding gear, 84; and the remainder of the movement winds up the train, lifting the Weighted lever from the dotted line position shown, releasing the dog. 89, and letting it down to ride on the upper edge of the bar, 80, so thatl on the completion of the settin v movement of the reflector-shields and wint ing movement of the timing train. A. the dog. 8S), engages the notch, 88, in the har, 80. and locks the parts at toasting position. Upon the operator releasing the handle. 7 the ruck bar. 83. is retracted along the oblique slot, 72. out of engagement with the winding gear, 84; so that on the runcausing the weight,

by means of a stud, 86, on the lever arm, 86, encountering the tail, 89, of the dog 89, to trip the dog, 89, out of the notch, 88, of the bar, 80, permitting the slide cam bar 90 to be retracted by its spring, 100, the rack, 83, is out of engagement with the winding gear, and the train is therefore ready to be rewound, and the parts are returned to initial position ready for re-setting.

To provide for adjustment to vary the du ration of the toasting period, the winding rack, 83, is mounted on the bar, 80, not directly, but by means of an intermediate bar, 120. which is adjustable longitudinally of the bar, 80, as indicated by slots, 121, and securing screws, 122, and carries a reading point, 123, for reading on a graduated scale, 124, formed on the bar, 80, and raduated in minutes of the toasting period.

If the maximum toasting period is wanted, the rack bar, 83, will be set so that the rack teeth engage' the Winding gear atthe start of the setting movement; and if a shorter )eriod is desired, the bar, 120, will be adpisted on the bar, 80, to set the foremost teeth of the rack bar, 83, more or less back from the winding gear, S4; so that the complete stroke for setting the slide cam bar, 90 at locked position, will rotate the Winding gear, 84, and wind up the operating weight less or more, so that it will run down and release the do in less than the full running` time.

It will be readily understood that without departing from the invention as herein disclosed, a Wide variety of timing devices and operating connections of the same may lie arranged to co-operate with the means for settin the reflector shields at reflecting or shield1ng,-toasting and non-toasting,-po sitions: and I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular means and devices shown for that purpose.

Also in respect to the means for operating the reflector shields to set them alternatively at reflecting and shielding position, a variety of constructions may readily be devised which Will not depart from the substance of the present invention, and I do not limit myself specifically to the rack and gear means shown, although the same may be claimed as preferred means for the purpose.

For giving the operator notice of the completion or termination of the heat treatment there may be provided either an audible or a visual signaling device. and both an audible and a visuai signal are embodied in the construction as illustrated in the drawings.

The audible signal consists of a bell indicated at 125 with a hammer seen at 12H. ea rried on a spring arm. 127. of which the wire or rod forming it is coiled about a pivot screw. 12S. set into the rear side of the rear upright. 10. and having an operating terminal extending down from the coil as seen at 129 into the path of a tooth. 80", projectto pass. and then snaps bac ing upward from the upper edge of the bar, 80, a stop stud,.130, being carried by the upright, 10, for stopping the hammer-carrying arm, 127, holding1r the hammer head out of touch with the bell, a stretched spring, 132, being provided attached at 133 to the rear upright, 10, and at 134 to the arm, 127, operating for holding the hammer arm against said stop. The operation of this bell signal is that in the manually-performed movement for settingr the reflector screens at heattreating position, the tooth, 80, passes by the end of the terminal, 130, which, due to the coil, 128, yields flexibly to ermit the tooth to the position shown in Figure 8, without operating the emmer-carrying arm, 127, by reason of the latter being stopped, as mentioned, against the stop, 131; and in the return movement of the bar, 80, under the reaction of the spring, 100, the tooth, 80h encountering the terminal, 130, rocks the entire hammer-carrylng member, retracting the hammer from the bell, and when the tooth has passed the end of the terminal the spring,.134, retracting thelarm, 127, against the stop, 131, rings the The visual signal shown in the drawings consists of a flag, 140, carried on an arm, 141, pivoted at 142 at the rear side of the rear u right, 10, said arm having a slot, 143, in w ic a. stud, 144, carried by the rack bar, 83, is engaged for swin ing the flag from full-line osition behind t e rear upright, 10, to dottedp line position where it 1s exposed forwardly in the movement ofthe bar, 8, due to the reaction of the spring, 100, retracting the operating cam bar for resetting the reflector screens at screening position and terminating heat treatment. When the Darts are operated for setting the reflector screens at re ecting or heating position, the .flag is carrled back to full line position behind the apparatus out of sight of the operator.

1. In an electric toaster and the like in combination with a heating coil arranged in successively parallel courses, a series of semicylindrical concave reflector-shields each pivoted for rocking from one side to the op posite side of a limited number of said courses for alternately shielding the toast from and exposing it to concentrated reflection of the heat of the coil.

2. In an electric heat-treatment apparatus a heat unit comprising a succession of parallel courses of heating coil. and a support for the article to be heat-treated mounted in a plane parallel to said courses and spaced therefrom, a succession ofV semi-cylindncally concave reflector-shields each axially pivoted parallel to a limited plurality of said courses for rocking from a position between the coil and the support convex toward the support, and the position at the opposite side of the coil from the support concave toward the support.

3. An electric heat-treatment device com prisin a carrier for an article to heattreate a heat-treatment unit consisting of* a succession of parallel courses of heating coil, and reflector-shields each facing -a limited plurality of said courses, each pivotecl longitudinally of the coils and arranged for roc ing from a position at the side of the coils op osite the carrier to a position between the coi s and the carrier; whereby said reflectorshields serve alternatel as reflectors for directing the heating of t 1e coils onto. the heattreated article on the carrier, and for shielding said article from the heat of the coils.

4. An electric heat-treatment device comprisin a carrier for an article to be heattreate a heat-treatment unit consisting of a succession of parallel courses of heatin coil and reflector-shields having one side highly reflective and the opposite side relativel non-rellective, each of said reflector-shiel s facing a limited plurality of said courses and each pivoted longitudinally of the coils for rocking from a position at the side of the coils opposite the carrier with the reflective side facing the ca rrier to a position between the coils and the carrier, whereby said re- Hector-shields serve alternately for concentrating the heat of the coils on the article to be heat-treated and for shielding said article from the heat of the coils.

5. In the structure defined in claim 4. the reflector-shields being semi-cylindrically transaxially concave at the side facing the coils, whereby when at the position at the opposite side of the coil from the carrier they serve to concentrate reliected heat on the article being treated.

6. In the structure defined in claim: 4,y the reflector-shields being semi-cylindrically transaxially concavo-convex and mounted with the concave side toward the coils' when the reflector-shield is ositioned at the opposite side of the coil; from the carrier; whereby at that position the reflector-shields serve to concentrate reflected heat on the article to be heat-treated, and at the reverse position having their convex side toward the carrier and tending to diluse the radiated heat.

In the construction defined in claim 4, the reflector-shields being each cylindrically transaxially concavo-convex with the concave side relatively reflective, and the convex side relatively nonrellective, and having' at its opposite ends radial lever ams by which it is pivotally mounted and arranged each to span two adjacent courses of the coil and the 180 bend by which said courses are continuous vwith each other.

8. In the construction, defined in claim 4, the reflector-shields being each cylindrically transaxially concavo-convex with the concave sides relatively reflective vand the con- 130 neeavsa vex sides relatively nonreflective, and having at its opposite ends radial lever arms by which it is ivotally mounted, the ivotal vanis heilig o set from the plane in which the 9. The construction defined in claim 4 comrising a frame structure in which the reector-shields are pivotally mounted, said reiiector-shields having their ivots at one end extended and furnished with gear pinions, a rack bar mounted on the frame structure having racks arranged to engage consecutive pinions respectively at opposite sides thereof, and means for reci rocating the rack bar for rocking the re actor-shields, whereby consecutive shields are rocked in opposite directions. y

10. In a heat'treatment apparatus, a heating unit mounted in fixed position; a carrier for the article to be treated mounted iixedly with respect to the heating unit, and means for concentrating the heat radiated from the heating unit on the article on the carrier, said means being mounted for movement back and forth between a position for directing the radiated heat toward the article and a position for directing the heat away from the article treated.

11. A heat treatment apparatus comprising a holder for the article to be heat treated; a heating unit having a succession of parallel heat-radiating elements and a reflector shield having one side highly reflective and another side relatively non-reflective, each of said reiiector shields being mounted facing a limited number of said parallel heat-radiating elements, and each being pivoted for rocking about an axis parallel to said parallel elements from a position at the side of said elements op osite the holder with the retlector side acing the heating elements to a position between said elements and the holder.

12. A heat treatment apparatus comprisingl a holder for the article to be heat treated, an heat radiating units mounted xedly with respect to the position of the holder at opposite sides of the position of the center of the holder, heat-directing means mounted with relation to the heat-radiatn units respectively for movement back an forth between ositions fordirectin the radiated heat towar the position of t e article on ythe holder and position for directing the radiated heat awa rom said position of the article.

13. A eat treatment apparatus comprising a holder for an article to be heat treated, two heat-radiating units having each a roup of longitudinally parallel heat-radiating elements and a grou of reflector-shields associated with each o said units, each reflector shield being mounted facing and spanning transversely a limited number of said arallel radiating elements, each of said reector shields bein pivoted for rocking about an axis para-l el to said parallel elements from a position at the side of said elements opposite the holder with the reector side facing the heat-radiating elements to a position between said elements and the position of the article carried b the holder.

14. The construction de ned in claim 4 comprising a frame structure in which the reilector-shields are pivotally mounted, the latter having their plvots at one end extended and furnished with gear pinions, a rack bar mounted on the frame structure having rack elements engaged with the pinions respectively, and means for actuating the rack bar' at will in one direction for rocking the reflector-shields to position them at the oposite sides of the coils from the carrier or Vreflecting theM heat of the coils toward the carrier, and spring means for actuating the rack bar in the opposite direction.

15. In a heat-treating apparatus in combination with a heating element a support for the article to be heat treated, a screen arranged to be movably interposed between the heating element and the article on the support, spring means for holding the screen element normally in screening position, means for manually withdrawing it from such position, and releasable locking means for holdin it out of screening position, means for re easing the locking device to permit the retraction of the screen to screening position, and an audible signal arranged to be` operated by the return movement of the screen to screening position.

16. In a heat-treating apparatus in combination with a heating element a support for the article to be heat treated, a screen arranged to be movabl interposed between the heating element an the article on the support, spring means for holding the screen element normally in screening position,

means for manually withdrawing it from such position, and releasable locking means for holding it out of screening position, means for releasing the locking device to permit the retraction of the screen to screening position, a visual signal and automatic means for operating to render it visible upon the return movement of the screen to screening position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 22d day of la? 1929.

RACE CALDWELL WRIGHT.

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